Burlesque star Kiki advises ‘The Voice’ hopefuls

A former contestant of BBC’s The Voice has relived being thrown into the public eye and shed some invaluable advice to hopefuls as the hit show once again returns to our screens.

Bubbly Burlesque singer Kiki De Ville, from Pendle, captured the heart of the nation when she auditioned for the reality programme last year and earned a place on Team will.i.am.

'The Voice' judges

And now she has shared how the opportunity has changed her life for the better, and urged others getting involved to enjoy every second, have a plan, and ultimately know how they want to use the show as a platform once the process is over.

Since being knocked out of the contest during the battle rounds, the Earby starlet has enjoyed a whole host of opportunities, including performing at London Burlesque Festival, where she will return this year, local gigs, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

In June she picked up the UK Vintage Personality of the Year at the National Vintage Awards - something she describes as “a highlight” - and the performer, originally from Melbourne, is now looking forward to touring with Burlesque Ball, performing a private gig for international star Immodesty Blaize in Monaco, and recording an album in April.

The 41-year-old, who runs Vocal Dexterity Singing School at Sanderson Dance and Fitness in Nelson, and who is hoping to launch a podcast soon, said: “It was a fantastic experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity, and for me it was more a confidence thing than anything as it made me feel a lot more positive about the area I was working in.

“Anybody that goes through the process does have a bump at the end, and it was difficult to make that transition from that bubble back into the real world. You shouldn’t expect overnight number one singles, that’s not how it works, but what you can expect is to use the information you have to go on with a good plan and do what you want to do.

“It’s not a ‘star-maker’ show like The X Factor, but it is a show that allows you to benefit from the experience of the coaches. A little bit of a platform goes a long way in this country.

“You may not become a household name but what you are doing is carving out a career that has longevity, which is more important than overnight success.”

The fourth series of The Voice launched on Saturday night, and saw returning judges will.i,am, Tom Jones, and Ricky Wilson joined by pop princess Rita Ora. Kiki, who also managed to raise awareness of Derian House during her time on The Voice following the death of her son Dexter, said: “It will be interesting to see who will.i.am chooses this year. To anybody going on his team, work with it, he may seem crazy, but he does know what he is doing and he does make you feel like part of the family. Rita Ora is amazing and I think she is going to be really good fun. She has a great deal of experience of climbing the ranks, and that is what the show is all about.”